As the home side, Freiburg harboured hopes of exacting a measure of revenge on Die Roten Bullen for defeat in last year's final, and they very nearly went ahead inside two minutes following a sweeping move, only for Amadou Haidara to nick the ball of Michael Gregoritsch's toe as he was about to shoot. That was about as good as it got for the Black Forest club in the first half, however. Christopher Nkunku dragged a shot wide moments later with a warning shot the hosts failed to heed, with Olmo soon heading in the opener from Marcel Halstenberg's cross. Olmo then produced an exquisite cushioned pass for Benjamin Henrichs to double Leipzig's lead 90 seconds later, and the Spaniard also played the killer balls for Dominik Szoboszlai and Nkunku to give Marco Rose's side an unassailable half-time lead.
Freiburg were given a glimmer of hope in the second half when Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Roland Sallai. Janis Blaswich produced a stunning save from Vincenzo Grifo from the resulting free-kick as the home crowd urged their players forward, but Leipzig responded by switching to a five-man backline and taking off Nkunku and Olmo as they protected their lead. Christian Streich's side did manage to pull a goal back when Gregoritsch expertly guided in a header from Sallai's right-wing cross, but Szoboszlai's stoppage-time penalty with the last kick of the game sealed the deal for Leipzig as they booked their ticket to the final in Berlin in June, where they will face either VfB Stuttgart or Eintracht Frankfurt.
Match stats
Leipzig have reached their third successive DFB Cup final, and fourth in five years.
Nkunku has 18 goals in 30 games in all competitions this season, including two in his last two outings.
Die Roten Bullen are unbeaten in their last eight competitive meetings with Freiburg, winning four - including last year's final.
Gregoritsch has 15 goals in 39 appearances for Freiburg in his debut season at the club.
Grifo has scored a team-leading 13 Bundesliga goals this season, but hasn't fired in the DFB Cup since the club's 2021/22 semi-final win over Hamburg on 19 April 2022.
DFB Pokal Semi-final Semi-final Europa-Park Stadion
Leipzig reach DFB Cup final!
The holders advance, thanks in no small part to a four-goal first half. Rose's team were just too good at times, with Olmo instrumental. Not even Gvardiol's sending off early in the second period could stop them. Leipzig will go to Berlin on 3 June, bidding to become only the sixth team of the Bundesliga era to successfully defend the DFB Cup.
Laimer's booked for a foul on the lively Weißhaupt. Leipzig just need to keep a lid on things. They don't wany any more suspensions for the final, where the winner of tomorrow's tie between Stuttgart and Frankfurt awaits.
Well, well. Gregoritsch makes his next chance count, getting up between two Leipzig defenders to head home a fine cross from Sallai. They couldn't, could they...?
The Austrian gets up well to meet Günter's left-wing cross, but he's 15 yards out and doesn't have the neck muscles to test Blaswich.
68'
Tempers flare
Kübler catches Orban late after an attempt to get a shot away in the box. He then shoves Blaswich to the ground in the ensuing melee. Both end up with their names in referee Sven Jablonski's little black book.
There's an anxious moment for 10-man Leipzig as Simakan stays down after contesting an aerial ball with Günter. The Frenchman eventually makes his way to his feet, though, and appears OK to continue.
61'
Triple change
Simakan replaces Leipzig puppet master Olmo. Raum and Klostermann are also on as Rose switches to five at the back. Nkunku and Halstenberg are the other players to make way.
Blaswich dives to his left to beat away the ensuing free-kick from Grifo. The Freiburg fans are making a real racket again.
58'
Leipzig reduced to 10 men!
Gvardiol is shown a straight red card for pulling down Sallai. He'll miss the final, assuming Leipzig don't succumb to a monumental Freiburg comeback...
The match referee indicates his intention to check the pitchside monitor after Sallai goes down under Gvardiol's attempted challenge. It was outside the box, but it's a question of whether it's a red-card offence...
51'
Leipzig in control
The visitors are hogging the ball, patiently awaiting a chance to prise open the Freiburg defence. They have no reason to force the issue. This could be a long second period for Streich's crestfallen charges, who went into the contest riding the crest of a wave after eliminating Bayern in the previous round...
47'
Laimer!
Laimer's allowed to swivel on the edge of the Freiburg area and ping a shot goalwards. Flekken's at full stretch to parry, but Szoboszlai can't connect properly with the loose ball.
46'
Long way back
Fresh Freiburg legs for the start of the second half. Stranger things have happened, but this is surely about restoring a measure of pride before the sides do it all again in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Freiburg are two points and a place better off then Leipzig in the Bundesliga standings, but they've been blow away in the first half of the 2022/23 DFB Cup semi-finals. Olmo's had a direct hand in four goals without reply for the holders, who are cruising at 100mph towards a third successive DFB Cup final, and fourth in five years.
It goes from bad to worse for Freiburg. Olmo's the architect again with a superb disguised pass into the feet of Nkunku in the box. He spins to face goal and leaves Flekken with no chance with the finish.
That's not far away at all from Szoboszlai, who crashes a swerving strike just over the crossbar from range. We all know he has an eye for the spectacular...
39'
Wide!
Gregoritsch takes aim from 15 yards out, but doesn't find the target. For a moment, it looked like the net was going to bulge. Freiburg have to keep plugging away...
36'
Leipzig strike again!
They're running away with it! Haidara slides a pass into opposition territory. Szoboszlai takes it on via Laimer, before exchanging passes with Werner and bending an ice-cold finish around the advancing Flekken.
Gvardiol is far too casual with his attempted pass back to Blaswich. Höler's on it like a flash, but Blaswich is quick to the danger to block behind off the Freiburg forward.
So far, so good for Leipzig
And particularly Olmo, who has a goal and an assist.
Freiburg are much improved since that tactical change. Leipzig are having a lot of defending to do, without the opportunities to break as they did for that second goal.
22'
Half chance!
Eggestein does well to clip a cross into the Leipzig area. Ginter gets his head to it, but it's some distance from goal and he glances comfortably wide. Leipzig get themselves into a muddle following the ensuing goal-kick, with Blaswich haring off his line to clear before Gregoritsch can take advantage.
19'
Talking tactics
Sildillia is sacrificed as Streich reverts to a four-man defence. Top scorer Grifo, with 15 goals in all competitions so far this term, is on.
Mountain to climb for the hosts now. Olmo shifts the ball up to Szoboszlai after a Freiburg attack breaks down. Werner collects and plays a ball into the feet of Henrichs, who controls well and fires home from a central position on the edge of the area. Leipzig with the power play - just 89 seconds between the goals.
The holders silence the home fans. Nkunku overhits a cross from the right, but Szoboszlai is there to return the ball with interest. Olmo is first to it ahead of Sildillia and powers a header past Flekken.
Doan pulls away from Halstenberg and drives inside onto his left foot. The Japan international catches it well, but fires wide from 18 yards. Blaswich probably had it covered.
5'
Nkunku chance!
Leipzig could, and perhaps should, be ahead. Olmo does really well to control Henrichs' fizzed forward pass. He slips the ball through for Nkunku, whose first touch takes him a little wide and he sends his shot past the opposite post with only Flekken to beat.
2'
First chance!
Kübler nips in ahead of Nkunku on the Freiburg right and sprints forward. His pass finds Höler, who in turn plays a brilliant first-time ball into the path of Gregoritsch. He's just about to shoot, about 12 yards from goal, but Haidara slides in and makes a brilliant tackle to clear the danger!
1'
Here we go!
We're under way in the Black Forest in what is set to be a cracking semi-final!
Kick-off!
Warm-ups under way
Christopher Nkunku, who scored the only goal of the game against Hoffenheim on his return to the starting line-up at the weekend, is back in action this evening.
Christian Streich has made just one change to his team, fresh from their 1-0 success in Cologne on Saturday. It's a major alteration though, as star playmaker Vincenzo Grifo drops to the bench, with Kiliann Sildillia starting in his place in what is perhaps a more defensive line-up from the hosts.
Team news - Leipzig
Marco Rose has made five changes to the side that beat Hoffenheim at the weekend. Klostermann, Simakan, Raum, Kampl and Forsberg all miss out, with Henrichs, Halstenberg, Haidara, Szoboszlai and Olmo taking their places.
Christian Streich has a selection luxury with only long-term injury absentee Daniel-Kofi Kyereh set to miss out. He may well select the same side that started the battling 1-0 win in Cologne on Saturday. Ritsu Doan scored the winner with a diving header in that.
Team news - Leipzig
Marco Rose has a near full squad to choose from - with Peter Gulacsi and Xaver Schlager the only injury absentees. Christopher Nkunku has returned to fitness in time to boost Leipzig's bid for silverware. He scored their goal in last season's final and netted the winner in a 1-0 victory at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday. Szoboszlai and Haidara were suspended for that but both can feature today.
0:52
Watch - Freiburg's shock DFB Cup win over Bayern Munich
Route to the last four - Freiburg
Freiburg also boast thoroughly decent cup pedigree these days. After the disappointment of being beaten finalists last time, the Black Forest club needed extra time to see off a pair of Bundesliga 2 opponents in the first two rounds (Kaiserslautern and St. Pauli). Freiburg beat another second division side, Sandhausen, in the last 16, before pulling off a sensational 2-1 win at Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals!
Route to the last four - Leipzig
The Roten Bullen are picking up a reputation for being quite the cup team, after following up last season's cup win with a carefree rush into the last four this time. An 8-0 opening round win at Teutonia Ottensen was followed by an impressive 4-0 against promotion-chasing Hamburg and two good wins against Bundesliga opposition (3-1 v Hoffenheim and 2-0 v Borussia Dortmund).
We all know what they did last spring
Tonight's semi-final encounter marks a rematch of the dramatic 2022 DFB Cup final, when Leipzig claimed their first major trophy on penalties after they played out a 1-1 draw with Freiburg in Berlin.
Welcome all!
We'll keep you updated on all the action in the eagerly awaited DFB Cup semi-final clash between Freiburg and Leipzig right here.
